This week yet another court case is taking place regarding the cover-up of clerical sex abuse.
It used to be hard to imagine that the rape of children could be made even worse by having
another crime added on to it.
In the Catholic Church, we know that often other priests had knowledge of abuse taking place,
and the bishop too, and yet nobody did anything to stop and prevent it, but instead denied it.
It is this last fact that has caused hundreds of thousands to turn away from the Church, never to return.
The same pattern of denial and silence that accompanies every new case, is a completely counterproductive exercise.
The studies to become a catholic priest takes approximately 8 years.
The reason why a catholic priest used to be revered in the past, is because he was someone who had given himself entirely to serving his flock, to saving souls, bringing people to the reality of God.
In being ordained, he gives himself up; body and soul, willing to die on the cross, if necessary.
That is actually what it means to be ordained a catholic priest.
To give everything, including their sexuality.
But when the Catholic Church, instead of implementing the teaching that she teaches in the Gospel
of Truth, Love and Justice, closes in on herself, and closes ranks against victims of abuse who seeks justice, the world watches in stunned unbelief and outrage.
Denial, lies, blaming the victims, thus abusing them more.
The Catholic Church is the guardian of the teaching of the Truth about God, and about humans.
But instead of acting as the treasurer of this highest valuable Treasure, she acts in this way.
The Church needs to convert, just as we all need to convert individually, every day.
The reality is that if the victims of clerical abuse had been listened to in the initial stages,
if they had been treated with the respect and dignity that they deserved,
especially as members of the same church,
the level of outrage and horror towards the Catholic Church would never have reached such levels.
It is the denial, the cover up, the silence, that causes most of the damage.
The public would maybe have been able to see that this abusive attitude to children was prevalent throughout society, but most importantly; it was prevalent in the heart and core of the Family, as most of the sexual abuse of children took place in the family home.
Perpetrated by fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, family friends etc.
The Church's defensiveness, the attitude of trying to "save oneself", has nothing to do with the Gospel, which teaches the exact opposite.
"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."
Ignorance has to be forgiven, because forgiving is crucial in the healing process, as it is the only way that balance can be restored in the interior life of the person.
"Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing".
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
(Luke 23:34 New International Version) (https://biblehub.com/luke/23-34.htm)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
(Matthew 5:43-48 New International Version)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A43-48&version=NIV
The commandments and the entire teaching of the Church, should be taken literally.
It is meant to center us internally, to keep us in a specific frame of mind and attitude.
They are spiritual exercises.
